Our Purpose and Principles

NAMA's Purpose

The Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance’s mission is to enhance and maintain healthy marine ecosystems by organizing a decentralized network of community-based fishermen, fishworkers and allies.

We are a fishermen-led organization that promotes fleet diversity and gives a voice to independent, community-based fishermen.

We work with community-based fishermen on market and policy alternatives that protect and maintain marine biodiversity while ensuring healthy local fishing economies that feed healthy food systems. We advocate for policies and practices that will sustain our fisheries.

NAMA's Principles of Practice

Each and every part of NAMA shall:

Be a vehicle for those of diverse communities, professions, experience, knowledge, viewpoints, power and resources to join together with others in pursuit of the purpose.

Encourage adaptability, diversity, flexibility, learning and innovation in all governance processes and practices.

Encourage marine uses and practices that ensure the long-term productivity and diversity of the Northwest Atlantic marine system.

Accept responsibility for the stewardship of the Northwest Atlantic marine ecosystem to ensure that succeeding generations will have an equal or better opportunity to benefit from its resources.

Recognize that the marine ecosystem is a public resource and that access to this resource is a privilege, not a right.

Engage in mutual learning to deepen respect and trust in one another and to improve our understanding and appreciation of the marine system.

Resolve conflict constructively and cooperatively without resorting to social, ecological or physical violence.

Encourage practices, behaviors and uses of technology that are consistent with the purpose and principles and control practices, behaviors and uses of technology that are inconsistent with the purpose and principles.

Protect marine uses or interests consistent with the purpose and principles from being substantially sacrificed to, or eliminated by, any other usesor interests.

NAMA’s Principles of Organization

Each and every part of NAMA shall:

Be open to all individuals and institutions that fully subscribe to the purpose and principles.

Have the right to organize in any manner, at any scale, in any area, and around any issue or activity, which is relevant to and consistent with the purpose and principles.

Vest authority in and make decisions at the most local level that includes all relevant and affected parties.

Surrender only such autonomy and resources as are essential to the pursuit of the purpose and principles.

Have an equitable opportunity and responsibility to participate in discussions and deliberations.

Deliberate and make decisions by methods and bodies that represent a full diversity of views and interests and are not controlled by any single view or interest.

Deliberate and make decisions using current and objective knowledge and information derived from scientific methods and practical experience.

Have an equitable obligation to provide knowledge and information that is relevant and essential to the realization of the purpose and principles and that is collected in a way that has minimal impact on confidentiality and competitive position.

Maintain the highest standards of credibility and ethical conduct, fair and accurate dissemination of information and full disclosure and accountability for its affairs.